Help needed..

[Heidi44]

I am so pleased to stumble across this site, I instantly feel less alone!

I've been on Butec patches for about 10 years and have recently been prescribed Zomorph. I also top these up with Co-codamol when needed. Has anybody any experience of Zomorph? It's not really doing it for me. I'm finding pain control really challenging. Btw, I am still on the patches as well. I'd be grateful for any help/answers/advice

[FRreedman]

What dose are you on? I found it took about a month before they helped with the pain. I started on 100mg twice per day (every 12 hours), and topped it up with Oramorph and Diazepam as required. I am now on 50mg every 12 hours, hardly any Oramorph or Diazepam but do take other pain relief on a regular basis. I think Zomorph is fine as a base to work from, but not as a be-all and end-all pain relief.

[Heidi44 in reply to FRreedman]

Thanks, that's encouraging. I'm only on 30mg twice daily and that's only since last Monday. I'm also on 30mmg Butec patches, slow release over 7 days and take 6-8 co-codamol as well. My GP said it was a trial dose, a bit hit or miss, until the proper level was reached. Have you had any bad side-effects from opioid based drugs?

[FRreedman in reply to Heidi44]

Only the expected constipation, which is unfortunate as I also suffer from IBD and IBS.

[Heidi44 in reply to FRreedman]

Yup, I have diverticulitis. Not great with opiates

[Tim61]

Hi Heidi44 , you seem to be on some very strong painkillers. What type of pain do you suffer. Just to be on the Butec patches you must be experiencing real high levels of pain . Where do you live if you don’t mind me asking ?sounds as though you need your pain medication reviewed, not added to .

[Heidi44 in reply to Tim61]

Tim, medication of this sort is not prescribed lightly and is reviewed on a regular basis by my GP and the specialist at the hospital and the Pain Clinic which I regularly attend. I imagine I'd receive the same treatment/medication wherever I lived? 🌞

[Tim61 in reply to Heidi44]

No Heidi , I wasn’t trying to be condescending, I was just being nosey really , I’m in the UK , & have experienced chronic pain problems for a long time due to a tumour I had in my thoracic spinal cord. I just thought to myself your pain must be near enough off the pain scale to be receiving such strong pain medication.The Dr , Consultants in England are turning away from using Opioid drugs as pain medication for long term cases, because of how quickly some build a tolerance to them & them only working over short periods of times, of course they don’t just stop them when people have been on them for long periods of time , they are more closely monitored. It’s good you have yours reviewed regularly. Before people start shooting me down, saying there not reviewed I’ve just done a course at Bath pain services , & a Pain management consultant explained this to me . If you’re not happy with the medication you take you should speak to your own GPs .

[Heidi44 in reply to Tim61]

Hi Tim, I hope I didn't come across as too snotty I've had treatment (hospitalisation, traction, plaster casts, nerve block injections and cauterisation etc, etc) since I was in my late teens, mainly problems with my neck and from my waist down.Believe me, I'm no stranger to pain, but this last year or so has been intolerable.

My latest scans showed rapid deterioration, so I'm grateful for any help I get and any tips I can pick up on these forums.

[Tim61 in reply to Heidi44]

No not at all , I was just interested, in what had happened through your life , for you to be on very strong pain medication. It’s very difficult like I said not to come across as intrusive & nosey, which puts you in a difficult position of either or not revealing to a total stranger your medical history.I thought it over after & I put you in a difficult position.

[Heidi44 in reply to Tim61]

Not at all, don't worry about it!